“You’re not going to help?” The surprise in his voice caught me off-guard. I wasn’t even sure he knew I was still there. It wasn’t like he was chatting away to me and making me want to stay.
“Not while you’re like this.”
“Like what?”
“Snapping. Grouchy. Rude.”
“I’m not …” he started to defend himself but quickly deflated.
“You are, Chris, and you know it. I don’t know what happened in your past because you haven’t told me, but taking it out on Santa’s sleigh, a symbol that brings joy and hope and makes people believe in magic, isn't someone I want to be around.”
I’d stood my ground. I felt like shit, but still, I’d stood my ground.
I should’ve been worried I’d push him too far and he’d tell us to get out, but we’d figure something out. I had no intention of staying somewhere we weren’t wanted. Not today or any other day.
I watched as Chris’s shoulders sagged and the fight went out of him. It was like the moment he knew he’d been called out for being an ass and he was choosing to let it go. At least, I hoped that's what it was because even though he was acting like the Christmas Grinch with a pine cone up his butt, I still couldn’t stop thinking about that kiss.
“I’m sorry,” he apologized, pressing a button on the hoist and lowering the sleigh slowly back to the ground.
“Wanna tell me what happened?”
“Not really.”
“You don’t have to. But if you want to talk about it, I’m a pretty good listener,” I offered softly.
The sleigh came to a stop on the workshop floor, and I moved over to it, peering inside. The details inside were just as meticulous as those on the outside. The bench seating looked comfy, and if you threw in some warm blankets, a few cushions,and a mug of hot chocolate it would be the perfect Christmas memory to make.
“I hate that sleigh,” Chris grumbled, and I stepped back and looked at him.
“No you don’t,” I countered.
“Yeah, I really do.” Chris sighed heavily as I climbed into the sleigh and sat on the hard wooden seat. “Get out. Please.”
I looked at Chris and the pain was written all over his face. There really was something painful about it.
“I was engaged,” he started as I climbed out and moved away.
At his words, I felt my chest tighten.
“We were supposed to be getting married. We had it all planned out. Kids. House. White picket fence. Dog. Everything. The whole shebang. I wanted to give her everything. And I would’ve. I might only be a grease monkey, but I would’ve moved heaven and earth to give her everything she ever wanted.”
Chris dropped onto a low stool and hung his head between his legs. I believed every word he said. He’d proven how far he’d go to make someone happy, I’d seen it firsthand how he was with Noelle. And she was someone he’d never met before. She was just a girl he was helping, and he’d gone out of his way to put a smile on her face and make sure despite everything working against her, she had a Christmas to remember.
“What happened?” I asked, the words catching in my throat.
Even though I asked, I wasn’t really sure I wanted to know. I mean, I had a pretty good idea of how it ended, but the bit in the middle, based on the way Chris was acting, was filled with pain and the last thing I wanted to do was force him to relive that.
“She cheated.”
“Oh.” I didn’t know what more I could say to that.
“I’d been asked to fix the sleigh, that sleigh, and they’d brought it to the workshop. I had to go pick up some parts, and when I came back, I found my ex blowing my best friend. Right there in the back of the sleigh.”
“No!”
I didn’t mean my outburst but surely that couldn’t be true. It was too far-fetched. Who’d do that? I couldn’t work out which part was worse. The fact she cheated or that she cheated with his best friend. Then there was the whole sleigh being brought into it.
“Yep. Down on her knees gagging on his cock.”
